Skip the resolutions altogether.

Resolutions tend to be unrealistic and overwhelming, making them difficult to achieve. They’re too broad and don’t provide a clear path to success. So, rather than making resolutions, we encourage our patients to make decisions.

Decisions are about committing to taking action. They’re concrete, focused, and provide direction. By setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound), we can help you turn your decisions into attainable objectives. As Florida board-certified weight loss physicians, we can give you the tools you need to stick to those weight loss goals.

We believe that certain steps can help all of our patients, regardless of their individual goals. Here are a few critical decisions we recommend making:

• Decide to love your body. It’s easy to get caught up in the negative messages that surround us, but it’s essential to recognize the beauty and strength within ourselves. Take a break from toxic media, celebrate body diversity, and shift the conversation from weight loss to health. And, most importantly, focus on the gifts that your body gives you. Write them down and revisit them often.

• Learn to love food again. Our relationship with food has become complicated. We view food as an enemy or a reward, and we’ve developed a habit of labeling certain foods as “good” or “bad.” To start, we need to let go of the “cheat day” mentality. Food should bring us joy and nourishment, not guilt. We need to make meals matter and be mindful of each bite we take, savoring the flavors, colors, and textures. We also need to learn to listen to our bodies. If we’re distracted by TV or work, we can miss important signals that our bodies are sending us. We need to be aware of our food triggers, whether it’s boredom, stress, or habit. By paying attention to our biological signals, we can make better choices and learn to eat intuitively. Above all, we need to remember that food is not good or bad. Food is part of our family and traditions, and it should be enjoyed without guilt. Whether it’s a healthy salad or a deep-fried carnival treat, it’s all about finding balance and savoring the flavors. So let’s decide to love food again, not as a source of punishment or reward, but as a source of nourishment and pleasure.

• Learn to love exercise For many of us, exercise is something we do either as a punishment for indulging in a treat or as a means to an end (like fitting into a dress). But this approach doesn’t instill a love of movement, which is what exercise should be about. The good news is, exercise doesn’t have to be extreme or unpleasant. It’s all about finding what you love to do. So, what do you love? Dancing, walking, swimming, jumping rope, biking, playing in the park with your kids… Whatever it is, that’s the exercise you need to do. When you enjoy what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like exercise at all. Make movement a part of our daily lives. Instead of driving to the store or taking the bus, walk or ride a bike. If it’s within a mile, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to incorporate movement into your routine. Make exercise a family or friend affair. Instead of meeting up for coffee, go for a walk together. Plan picnics in the park, throw a ball around or play frisbee. By creating opportunities for the family to exercise together, we can develop healthy habits in our kids that will last a lifetime. In the end, it’s all about making movement a part of our lives and finding joy in it. When we learn to love to move, we’ll reap the benefits of a healthier and happier lifestyle.

• Be kind. Be kind to yourself and others. Be kind to your body and understand that the changes you’re going through to lose weight and live healthier take time. Be kind because the world needs more kind.